SPRINKLER TALK FORUM - You Got Questions, We've Got Answers

If the RPZ spits water and then stops releasing water, it is not malfunctioning.

Took that sucker apart last night and cleaned, inspected and did everything I knew how to do. Installed it and it held tight until I turned off the sprinkler then it dumped again but not as heavy. Looks like I will get new one. Saw them online for $192.00 so that should fix the problem and free up my time . Thanks for your help WB.

Installed the relief valve seat last night but no change. I believe there is a check valve in line before the rpz. I will open it tonight and see how it looks. I will probably take everything apart and clean and reinstall and see how that works. Any tips appreciated.

the gel (food-grade silicone grease) is needed on the O-ring involved in the moving parts of the relief assembly, and not so much anywhere else

Thanks. I will probably get the relief valve seat replacement today and install it since it's the only new part not installed. I also didn't lubricate the o-rings with the supplied gel (intructions don't mention it) and I'll do that.



I replaced the check seat valve orings with round o-rings from Home Depot. Do I need to get different o-rings from my supplier? Thanks again.



Burning up in Arkansas.

I had a few RPZs prone to pulsing, on high-pressure supplies, and it was essential to crack open the top-mounted testcocks to bleed the air out (these were all Febco 825Y) - it's still okay for an RPZ to spit some water when a zone shuts off hard.

Thanks WB. Is there a link on this forum for flushing air out of system? So I would have two check valves upstream before 975? Is there a sequence to open/shut the valves to avoid discharge. I really appreciate your help. thanks

Make sure all the air is out of the device. A last-ditch attempt to stop a pulsating discharge is a check valve added upstream of the RPZ

Hi guys, just joined. My 975xl froze winter before last and I replaced the first check valve section. Had a few discharges last summer but my sprinkler guy reworked the 975 and everthing was good. This spring the relief valve discharges came back. I just installed a repair kit and two new check valve seats (one had a 1" chip off the rim). Still have the same discharge when sprinklers not on (nothing when they are). Discharge is pulsing at first then gotes to steady. What else could I do besides buying new unit? Thanks for any suggestions.

My general rule is that if any part of a backflow is damaged by freezing I replace the whole thing. There could be hidden damage that will show up later. Then the customer is upset with my work and expect me to warrant the parts I didn't replace because I said they were good.

It would cost you more to have a professional diagnose each part than to do a simple replacement.

You didn't include pictures. In many cases the homeowner can do their own replacement. It's not that hard.
Then have it tested.